Re: Is rowing fundamentally dangerous?

mikep@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes 
A problem exists when the people engaged in the activity elect to
continue with it  AFTER the inherent danger has been pointed out to
them.

I was recently engaged in coaching  "Corporate"  rowing. In our system
people pay money, buy themselves a seat in a VIII, have 8 coaching
sessions followed by a regatta.

The rowers range from  those with past rowing experience to absolute
novices, add in the words, mainly unfit & overweight.

One of the boats used in the programme is fitted with Concept  2 foot
restraints. (banned in principle by every set of race regulations in
the world)

These restraints are dangerous as it is impossible to remove the feet
in the event of a capsize.

I will not have any crew in my care use this boat, unfortunately, no
other coach nor the event organisers  hold the same view and continue
to send out absolute novices in the boat. (Despite at least one VIII
every year, flipping over at the dock).

I even posted a notice in the shed warning of the dangers of the foot
restraints in this boat. It was immediately removed on the grounds that
"we don't want to alarm anyone" !!


<Snip>

Mike - I don't know where in Oz you are, but you might like to compare notes on this with Nick Suess in Perth. He has much common ground he may care to share with you.

Folk moan about lawyers, but I can't think of any better way of getting lawyers actively involved in rowing but to rowing's total disadvantage than for a club to act in that way. Can you imagine the guy who took down the warning being grilled on his action by a lawyer acting on behalf of a drowned lawyer? Taken to the cleaners would not be the half of it. I suspect that removing a safety warning of that kind could count as a criminal act.

We none of us want to "make a fuss", & individuals can sometimes be pretty bloody obtuse when challenged on lunatic behaviour, but I reckon there's a bullet badly needs biting there. Even though those novice rowers had flip answers about it not having happened yet, the day they do flip all hell will break loose & the liability will be hung firmly around the necks of the club & those who put those people afloat. The message has somehow to be got across, by force or "underhand" methods (short of boat burning) if need be, & before it really does go wrong.

Carl
--
Carl Douglas Racing Shells        -
    Fine Small-Boats/AeRoWing low-drag Riggers/Advanced Accessories
Write: The Boathouse, Timsway, Chertsey Lane, Staines TW18 3JY, UK
Email: carl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx  Tel: +44(0)1784-456344  Fax: -466550
URLs:  www.carldouglas.co.uk (boats) & www.aerowing.co.uk (riggers)

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